Centerstage - Chicago's Original City Guide

Virtual L ®

CONTACT US
SUBMISSIONS
ABOUT US
SUBSCRIBE to
CRUMB and FestFile is Centerstage Chicago's Weekly E-Newsletter.
Enter your email to get
our weekly newsletter:

Who's Who Chicago: Centerstage People
Alicia Eler
Personal Website: http://www.aliciaeler.com
Alicia Eler is the former CenterstageChicago.com Theater Editor. As a freelancer, her writing has appeared on Artforum.com and 365Gay.com/LOGO, and in Time Out Chicago magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, Windy City Times, Flavorpill Chicago, Newcity and the Chicago Artists' Newspaper. She said farewell to Centerstage when she became the Arts & Community Manager at Chicago Tribune Interactive in March 2009.



 

Articles by Alicia

Funny Ladies
Theater Guides. 01/09/2010.
These young, up-and-coming female comedians are shaping Chicago's underground scene.

Where to Pick Your Pumpkins
Chicago Happenings. 09/23/2009.
You'll find a horde of gourds (plus apples, hay rides, corn mazes and more) at these local patches.

Where the Cabbies Eat
Dining Guides. 07/11/2009.
When you want a spot with quick, cheap and tasty eats, just look for the taxis parked outside.

In the Raw
Dining Guides. 04/16/2009.
Go nude with your food at area eateries...your body will thank you.

Burrito Showdown
Dining Guides. 03/19/2009.
Drop the Chipotle and head to these winning Mexican eateries instead.

Outside the Heart-Shaped Box
Dining Guides. 02/13/2009.
Got a taste for something that's not wrapped in pink tinfoil? Try these offbeat Valentine's Day desserts.

Acts of Love
Theater Guides. 01/28/2009.
From Kama Sutra to Andrew Bird, Chicago's Valentine's theater will make you swoon.

Same-Sex Sweethearts
01/22/2009.
Our tips for queering up your Valentine's Day.

V-Day Getaways
01/20/2009.
Skip town for some extra nookie at these local vacation spots.

Where Can I Go Skiing Near Chicago?
Ask Centerstage . 01/16/2009.
With these ski spots all within a day's drive, you can cancel that trip to Aspen.

So You Wanna Cross-country Ski?
So You Wanna.... 01/05/2009.
Cross-country skiing gets heart rates up even when temps are way down.

Get It Write
Literature Guides. 01/01/2009.
Take your brain back to school with these writing outlets.

Living the Art Life, Literally
Art Guides. 01/01/2009.
Five gallerists tell all about living and working in one small space.

Seasonal Sweets
Dining Guides. 11/19/2008.
Before you stuff those stockings, stuff yourself full of holiday goodies from these Chicago bakeries.

Quirky and Queer at Reeling
11/04/2008.
From gay zombies to bisexual students, this year's Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival goes beyond the mainstream.

How Not to Plagiarize
In The Spotlight. 10/18/2008.
The Plagiarists rip you and Jonathan Lethem off with "Promiscuous Stories."

Best of the Chicago Film Fest
10/16/2008.
Can't choose from among the many award-winning flicks at the Chicago International Film Festival? We've got you covered.

Liz Nielsen
Arts and Words. 10/13/2008.
This photographer's photographer loves quantum physics and little white kitties.

No Coast Collective
Arts and Words. 10/06/2008.
From comic books to t-shirts, these artists have a lot to offer. Find it all in their Pilsen gallery/store space.

Ky Dickens
09/26/2008.
The Chicago-based filmmaker tackles homosexuality and religion with a touch of humor in her latest project.

Stacia Yeapanis
Arts and Words. 09/01/2008.
The Chicago-based artist gives meaning to TV fandom through cross-stitch screen shots.

Novem Collective
Arts and Words. 08/11/2008.
The graffiti artists have made T-shirts their new canvases.

Your Town
Theater Guides. 07/23/2008.
Need a reminder of why you love where you live? These Chicago-centric plays will show you the way.

Better as a Group
Art Guides. 07/01/2008.
As summer sets in, galleries opt for all-encompassing group shows.

Elise Rasmussen
Arts and Words. 06/09/2008.
This Canadian-born artist has a thing for the French.

Let's Take It Outside
Theater Guides. 06/05/2008.
You'll have no excuse to stay in with our guide to outdoor theater venues.

Irena Knezevic
Arts and Words. 04/21/2008.
The Hyde Park-based artist's work will be on display at the MCA through April 27.

Kiddie Theater
Theater Guides. 04/08/2008.
Explore the world of theater with the little ones.

Kristin VanDeventer
Arts and Words. 04/07/2008.
The local painter, who opens a show on April 20, draws inspiration from daily life, the internet and books.

Melanie Schiff
Arts and Words. 02/18/2008.
The photographer is one of two Chicago artists featured at the 2008 Whitney Biennial.

Todd Dills
Arts and Words. 02/11/2008.
DIY lit mag The2ndHand is still going strong after eight years.

Healthy, Hungry and Wise
Dining Guides. 01/09/2008.
We've got eating-out tips for those hopping on the 2008 health train.

Michael Harvey
Arts and Words. 12/31/2007.
The Wrigleyville resident's crime novel, The Chicago Way, showcases the city.

Give the Gift of Lit
Literature Guides. 12/21/2007.
Our top book picks for the gift bin.

Darrel Morris
Arts and Words. 12/14/2007.
The artist's carefully sewn fiber work challenges stereotypical male archetypes.

Now That's Rather Queer
Art Guides. 11/21/2007.
Check out these queer-focused art shows.

Philip von Zweck
Arts and Words. 11/16/2007.
We chat with the artist, gallerist and man-around-town.

Cris Mazza
Arts and Words. 11/07/2007.
Her latest book takes readers on a journey through one character's struggle to understand her past.

Eat Your Art Out
Dining Guides. 11/05/2007.
These restaurants and cafes come with killer views...of art.

Not Just a Weekend Thang
Love, Sex, Life. 10/25/2007.
Get your queer on all week at these weeknight date spots.

Saluting Soup Season
Dining Guides. 10/22/2007.
Warm up your belly with bowls of fall-inspired goodness and some classic cups, too.

Stephanie Gentry-Fernandez
Arts and Words. 10/04/2007.
Local Latina lesbian poet writes about her unusual Chicago childhood.

Karen Abbott
Arts and Words. 09/24/2007.
Uncovering a forgotten period of Chicago's underground history in Sin in the Second City.

Have Your Cake and Donate,Too
Dining Guides. 09/18/2007.
You can feel good, stuffed and full of altruism after visiting these spots.

Art Season Kick-off
Art Guides. 09/12/2007.
A sampling of the what's what and who's who in West Loop and Fulton Market galleries this season.

Retro Romancing
Love, Sex, Life. 09/11/2007.
Our guide to fun-filled flirting will show you how to swoon your sweetheart the old-fashioned way.

Istanbul in Chicago
Dining Guides. 09/02/2007.
Eat like a sultan without booking a flight to Turkey.

Carrie Schneider
Arts and Words. 08/27/2007.
This artist's work calls upon a great Spanish master painter.

Natalie Y. Moore
Arts and Words. 08/22/2007.
Readers get the low-down on men and women of the hip-hop generation in Moore's collaborative work, Deconstructing Tyrone.



 
Theatre Reviews by Alicia
  • As Told by the Vivian Girls
  • Creole
  • Lesbians Who Kill
  • Love is Dead: A NecRomantic Musical Comedy
  • Magnificents, The
  • Malady of Death, The
  • Mere Fluff
  • No-EL or how the BlagojeGrinch stole Christmas
  • Noir
  • Rudolph The Red-Hosed Reindeer
  • The Birds
  • The Nutcracker
  • Wedding Play


  •  
    Venues Reviewed by Alicia
  • A&T Grill
  • Abyssinia Restaurant
  • Alhambra Cafe
  • Alma Pita
  • Angelina Ristorante
  • Annoyance Theatre and Bar
  • Antica Pizzeria
  • Asmara Cafe
  • Balkan Restaurant
  • Barba Yianni Grecian Taverna
  • Bikram Yoga Andersonville
  • Bleeding Heart Bakery
  • Bombacigno's J & C Restaurant
  • Bravo! Cucina Italiana
  • Bucks Saloon
  • Cafe Latin Bliss
  • Cafe Orchid
  • Cell Block
  • Champions
  • Dave's Italian Kitchen
  • Davis Street Fishmarket
  • Duk's Red Hots
  • El Rey Del Taco
  • Enoteca Piattini
  • Fattoush
  • Feida Bakery
  • Fiesta Cantina
  • Fion Wine & Spirits
  • Fontana Grill
  • Gallery Guichard
  • Giorgio's Pizza
  • Gregory Gaymont Studio & Gallery
  • Harmony Grill
  • Hema's Kitchen
  • Homey Gallery
  • JJ Fish & Chicken (Uptown)
  • Keg of Evanston
  • Kitchenette
  • Koko Sushi Bar
  • Konak Pizza and Grill
  • K's Dugout
  • La Bocca della Verita
  • La Poupee Cafe
  • Late Night Thai
  • Lizard's Liquid Lounge
  • Lucca's
  • McGill's
  • Mitsuwa
  • Mongerson Galleries
  • Mt. Everest
  • Murphy's Red Hots
  • Neleh Galleries Internationale
  • Nesh Mediterranean Grill
  • New Modern Grille
  • New Tokyo
  • No Coast Collective
  • Nohana Sushi
  • North End
  • Novelty Golf & Game Room
  • Occult Bookstore
  • Oodles of Noodles
  • Panda Panda
  • Pannenkoeken CafĂ© (Lincoln Square)
  • Peacock Cafe and Restaurant
  • Pho's Thai Cuisine
  • Piazza Bella
  • Que Rico! (Roscoe)
  • R.H. Love Galleries
  • Ras Dashen
  • Relish The Thought
  • Richard Gray Gallery
  • Ricky G's
  • RoPa Restaurant & Wine Bar
  • Sam and George's
  • Screenz (Andersonville)
  • Sidetrack
  • SteeleLife Gallery, Inc.
  • Stefano's Stuffed Pizza
  • Susie China
  • Sweet Bean and More
  • Swimming Pool Project Space
  • Taco and Burrito House
  • Tally Ho Pub
  • Taqueria La Oaxaquena
  • Taqueria Uptown (Bryn Mawr)
  • Taza Coffee & Deli
  • Thai Room
  • The Century Public House
  • The Union
  • Three Harmony
  • Tianguis Bookstore & Cafe
  • Tiny Lounge
  • Tommy Nevin's Pub
  • Tony's Burrito Mex
  • Urban Belly
  • Urban Cafe
  • Vinh Phat
  • Waba
  • Wiener and Still Champion
  • Wild Pug
  • Wilde Bar and Restaurant
  • Worthington Gallery


  • Check Out More Centerstage People
    chicago, metromix